Hello Experts,

I am the current owner of a 2007 R56 MC and previously owned a 2004 MC and 2002 MC, so I consider myself "reasonably" versed on the vehicle. However not with the Cabrio.

I'm considering purchasing a 2005 MC Cabrio and was hoping you could advise on the following;

• Any "problem" areas I should look at?
• Anything with the top I should be aware of?
• Is the top problematic?
• Any leaks, wind noise, etc. that has developed over time?
• Any other "tips" you think you have are appreciated!

Cheers,

 

I have an 07 MCc and the thing that I would look at is the top, check for white or shiny spots on the top. These are would be wear marks, telling you that something is rubbing or being pinched when the top is opening or closing. Also put the top up and down a few times to see if it makes any squeeks or other noise, my 07 squeeks badly after being opened for the day when being closed. The dealer has yet to have it squeek when there and it still needs to be repaired.

 

I have a 2008 S cabrio and it has been the most problem free and (unbelievably) rattle, squeak free car that I have owned in years. It does not leak, but when it rains if you open your windows or doors after stopping water will come in the car (lack of rain gutters, typical convertible problem). The only thing you might want to know is if and when doing mods the cabrio has enough differences that significant parts are not the same as for coupes. Other than this, the cabrio is a gas, have fun.

Steve

 

I have a 2005 MCSC and I concur with comments so far. Mine has about 36 K miles on it now and has been trouble free. Slightly more wind noise than the 2004 MCS we had prior, but not much - we've owned several convertibles and our MINI is by far the quietest.

The sun roof mode is great but you need to crack the back windows to make the airflow more comfortable - with sun roof open and windows up the air from the sun roof will hit you right in the head.

The only downside to the cabrio is rear and passenger side visibility. The rear headrests block a lot of the rear view and the passenger side sail panel gives a big blind spot. You will get use to it - it actually will improve your scan habits! But it can be an issue in merging situations. I have installed a small convex mirror on my passenger door mirror which helps a bunch. Especially if you have a lot of seat time in MINI coupe, which has excellent visibility, you will notice the difference.

 

Oh, one other downside - cargo capacity! With the hatchback on the coupe, you can really put a lot of stuff back there. Not so with the cabrio. Very restricted on what you can get in the boot, even with the rear top release feature (which I actually use a lot!). On the plus side, though, is with the top down, it's really easy to lift things in and out!

That said, my wife and I really love our convertible and we're glad we made the switch. Life is too short to NOT have a convertible!

 

I have a 2005 cabrio. I just had to have the whold top replaced. It had a terrible scratching sound when the top was left down all day. Come to find out the rear windows were being scratched when the top was going up. The top was also worn in several areas. This was all replaced under warranty and is a known problem. It is a great care and I wouln't trade it for anything.

 

I to just bought a 05 MCSC w/ 35K on the clock. Yup I would water proof the heck out of the roof just b/c the car is goin on 3 years old. Also I have the scratchy windows and my top has a couple small wear spots which I will have the warranty cover come spring (no point screwing with it in the winter.

Make sure the allignment and the tires are zero'd in b/c the cabrio's are more prone to vibrations.

Other than that the car is solid and I like rocking the crap out of it. 65 in Colorado today, going to be a top down ride home.

 

Any problems you might encounter will be covered under warranty unless you are looking at one of the first cabs to arrive in the states. Our warranty is up in the middle of this month and just had the muffler replaced because of the outer metal layer peeling off due to rust.

Besides doing the recall to alleviate the top wear caused by the roof mechanism, our 2005 MCC had a wet floor after heavy rains. The dealer changed the weather stripping at the top of the windshield to a taller version to channel the water better to the A-pillar drains.

Only the top caused some concerns...you should be familiar with the rest of the car.

 

My 06 has 54 thousand miles and no problems The top has been great, although I'm careful not to leave it folded over night. It's a bit noisier than the hard top, but it's worth it! Nothing like that feeling of freedom and fresh air blowing through the car. The windscreen is also great, really cuts down on the gusty winds.

 

I cannot imagine my life without it... it makes me smile everyday!

And as for cargo space... I don't know about the coupe so I can't make a judgement on that, but I can fit more than most people ever imagine could be fit. I don't have kids though, so when I need extra space I just fold the seats down and it opens to the boot space. Since we got an '08 MCSC in late September we have almost 4300 miles on it. And last night we christened her with the annual Christmas Tree ride! 10ft tree stuffed in... hysterical. We've done this every year since we got our first Cabrio in '05. Love it! I don't understand why people would say they hardly ever use it... kind of unfortunate because I think they're really missing out on the fun. As for it being "louder"... well I've found that the greatest fix for that is turning up the music.

Good luck!

We have to put our '05 up for adoption soon... but I don't know how we will part with her.

* Oh yeah, we've never had leaks.

 

We've had our 05 MCSC JCW for just over a year and the roof is just showing shiny spots, dealer already said not to worry about it, they'd replace it. I would recommend a couple of mods, especially if you get the S and like speed. Engine damper makes a huge difference, check and correct mushrooming of strut towers. After that get a 4 wheel alignment, I didn't and chewed up a rear tire. Other than maintenance, motor on.

A good suggestion would be to visit a recommended dealer in your area and sit and chew the ear of the service advisor. I did and he is now a good friend although he is not a service advisor any longer.

Oh, I got the bug again and bought a classic. These are much more prone to gremlins, as I have found out.

 

I just parted with my 05 MC Cabrio in October It was one of the first to arrive in the US. Unfortunately, it had multiple roof problems (3 roofs), 3 sets of back windows due to scratching, & 1 new sunroof mechanism. So, obviously, the tops are the biggest issues on the 05s. Check it carefully. I had loads of other issues also & that's why I now drive a Clubman But I know I will miss the top down fun come Spring

Lois